I know that a Math is a requirement for Medical school. I’m not so good at math unfortunately, and since most applicants to medical school are taking calculus as their math, I would like to do the same so I can keep my application competitive. I’ve taken AP Calculus my senior year. My teacher was really good and amazing at teaching, but my math skills aren’t the best. Through tons of effort (and lots of crying and sleepless nights lol), I finished the first semester of AP Calc AB with a 90. I finished AP Calc AB second semester with a 93. I probably got a 3 or a 4 on the exam, because, well, I suck at math. Anyway, I would like to be a Biology major (with either a double major or minor in Spanish). However, I’m still stuck on whether I should take Calculus I again or go on and take Calculus II. I know my math skills are lacking, and I’m not sure if I should funnel my effort into Calculus II and have my GPA (which is important for med school) be possibly damaged as a result or if I should just go ahead and retake Calculus I so I could have a math and keep my GPA protected b/c I’ve just relearning the material. What do you guys think?
A 3 on the AP Calc AB exam means you have fundamental deficits in your mastery of the subject. You should retake Calc 1.
Only a handful of med schools require Calc 2 for admission. Unless you’re planning on applying to one of those, you don’t need Calc 2 and you won’t get any “brownie points” for taking a harder than needed math.
Besides calc, you also need a semester of statistics or biostatistics.
No pre-med should skip courses without a 5 on the corresponding AP.
Definitely take Calc I. As you’ve said, you’re weak in math. Take Calc I, you should do well in it, then you’ll have your A and be done.
General advice: take the required course you can most assuredly obtain As in. Since Calculus I is sufficient, you should take that. “Shop around” at another (non-online, non-community college) university if the professor at your school is one of those who do not give As.
Source: 20/20 hindsight as a US MD student who just finished 1st year. Honestly though calculus is entirely unnecessary in practice and stats/biostats is more useful I feel, but I know some top schools still require calculus.